The deal for the manufacturer of print finishing equipment for foil stamping, die-cutting, embossing, folding and gluing and UV coating kit is the latest in a series of takeovers for Mark Andy. In March it acquired Direct Imaging press and plates specialist Presstek from its private equity owners.
And between 2000 and 2012 it acquired Comco, Rotoflex International, Arpeco and flexographic supplies business Print Products.
Headquartered in St Croix Falls, Wisconsin, Kluge is an offline finishing specialist with OEM parts, consumables and kit in small to medium-size formats for commercial printers, finishers, direct mail manufacturers and packaging converters.
Mark Andy, based in St. Louis, Missouri but with sales and distribution offices worldwide, sells label and packaging equipment and consumables to printers and converters.
Brandtjen & Kluge has around 30 equipment users in the UK and the firm's UK managing director Thomas Andersen said it is "business as usual".
“The deal won't have a big impact on day-to-day running in the short term: it's more a change of ownership than how this company operates.
“We won't be integrated into Mark Andy and will remain an independent company going forward.”
He added: “In the medium to long term we may get more investment to build the Kluge brand, but it's too early to speculate.”
Mark Andy chief executive Kevin Wilken described Kluge as “such a recognisable brand” built over decades and with thousands of installations worldwide.
“We look forward to continuing Kluge’s tradition of high quality products, services, and consumables with the broader support of Mark Andy’s global infrastructure,” he said.
Brandtjen and Kluge chief executive Michael Aumann added: “The Brandtjen family is very proud of the legacy established and nurtured since the company was founded in 1919.
“[This] transaction is an opportunity to continue growing our business while joining an even larger family that will allow us to build on our commitment of manufacturing durable equipment.”
Aumann will continue to lead Kluge as president of the Brandtjen & Kluge division which will continue operations in St Croix Falls.
Last year Kluge launched the ApexFoil foil-stamping and die-cutting platen press.
